J Uberos1, M Miras-Baldo2, A Jerez-Calero2, E Narbona-López2. 1. Unidad Neonatal, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Avenida del Doctor Oloriz, 16, 18012 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: juberos@ugr.es. 2. Unidad Neonatal, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Avenida del Doctor Oloriz, 16, 18012 Granada, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To assess the effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants to prevent complications of prematurity. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study to determine the effectiveness of vitamin A in preventing complications of prematurity in VLBW infants. Vitamin A was delivered intramuscularly at a dose of 5000 IU, three times weekly during the first 28 days of life. RESULTS: Of the 187 eligible VLBW infants, we excluded from the analysis (due to death or transfer to another hospital), 16 infants weighing <1000 g and 17 weighing 1000-1500 g. Sixty VLBW infants received the vitamin supplement. We observed no differences between the groups in the duration of oxygen therapy or in the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The risk of sepsis was up to three times higher among the infants who were given the vitamin A supplement. CONCLUSION: Given the increased risk of sepsis in patients weighing >1000 g, the risk associated with repeated intramuscular injections of vitamin A and the modest clinical results described, we do not believe the universal administration of vitamin A to VLBW infants to be justified as prophylaxis for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
BACKGROUND: To assess the effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants to prevent complications of prematurity. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study to determine the effectiveness of vitamin A in preventing complications of prematurity in VLBW infants. Vitamin A was delivered intramuscularly at a dose of 5000 IU, three times weekly during the first 28 days of life. RESULTS: Of the 187 eligible VLBW infants, we excluded from the analysis (due to death or transfer to another hospital), 16 infants weighing <1000 g and 17 weighing 1000-1500 g. Sixty VLBW infants received the vitamin supplement. We observed no differences between the groups in the duration of oxygen therapy or in the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The risk of sepsis was up to three times higher among the infants who were given the vitamin A supplement. CONCLUSION: Given the increased risk of sepsis in patients weighing >1000 g, the risk associated with repeated intramuscular injections of vitamin A and the modest clinical results described, we do not believe the universal administration of vitamin A to VLBW infants to be justified as prophylaxis for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Authors: Simone S Schüller; Boris W Kramer; Eduardo Villamor; Andreas Spittler; Angelika Berger; Ofer Levy Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2018-07-19 Impact factor: 3.418